Homemade strawberry lemonade is one of those timeless summer drinks that you can enjoy anytime. Fresh squeezed lemon juice and ripe strawberries come together for this bright and refreshing drink. From the front porch to the backyard pool to a barbecue on the deck, this homemade strawberry lemonade is a sure crowd pleaser.
Why You Will Love Homemade Strawberry Lemonade
- Fresh - Homemade strawberry lemonade is made with fresh strawberries and freshly juiced lemons for a refreshing lemonade.
- Customized To Your Taste - You can make the lemonade sweeter or more tart depending on your preference.
- Natural - Made without artificial flavors or colors, homemade strawberry lemonade gets its color and flavor from simple ingredients.
- Crowd Pleaser - Lemonade is the perfect drink for parties and get togethers. Watch the lemonade disappear at your next party.
- Kid Friendly - Kids love this recipe and love helping prepare the lemonade. Juicing is the perfect opportunity to get a little one involved in the kitchen.
Tools
- Medium Saucepan
- Blender
- Mesh Strainer
- Measuring Cups
- Citrus Juicer
- Large Pitcher
- Long Wooden Spoon or Spatula
Ingredients
Before you head to the recipe card for exact measurements, here’s a quick look at what you’ll be using.
- Strawberries - Ripe, juicy strawberries give homemade strawberry lemonade its berry flavor and beautiful pink color. Also, use sliced strawberries as an additional garnish.
- Lemon Juice - The sweetness of the strawberries is perfectly balanced with the tartness of lemons. You can either use bottled lemon juice or fresh for the best flavor. Slices of lemon add a garnish and an extra pop of flavor.
- Sugar - The sugar takes the bite out of the tartness of lemon juice.
- Water - Since lemon juice is so concentrated, we dilute it with water.
- Ice - Even though the lemonade will be chilled before serving, the ice keeps the strawberry lemonade ice cold.
Instructions
- Hull the strawberries and quarter them. Measure out 1 ½ cups.
- Add the hulled strawberries, sugar and water to a saucepan.
- Bring the strawberry mixture to a simmer for five minutes to soften the strawberries.
- Meanwhile, juice the lemons to make 1 ½ cups of juice. Add the juice to a 2-quart pitcher.
- Let the strawberry mixture cool slightly and carefully pour into a blender. Pulse on low speed until smooth.
- Strain through a mesh strainer into the pitcher for a pulp-free strawberry lemonade.
- Mix well and chill.
- Serve with lemon slices and sliced strawberries if desired.
- Enjoy!
Tips For The Best Homemade Strawberry Lemonade
- Use ripe strawberries for the best results. You can use thawed frozen strawberries in place of fresh strawberries.
- When blending the strawberry mixture, pulse rather than continuously blend. Pulsing will incorporate less air into the mixture. If it is too foamy, skim the foam off the top before mixing with the lemon juice.
- Adjust the sugar based on how ripe and sweet the strawberries are. You can always start with just one cup of sugar and increase it to meet your taste.
- Chill well before serving so the homemade strawberry lemonade does not get diluted by the ice.
Variations
- You can use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh; however, fresh juice gives this strawberry lemonade a fresher flavor.
- Cut the water to three cups when boiling and blending the strawberry mixture. Mix and chill as directed. Top with two cups of sparkling water when serving for a bubbly drink.
Homemade Strawberry Lemonade
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Description
This homemade strawberry lemonade is a fresh, tart, and sweet drink that is summer in a glass. Made with fresh strawberries and juiced lemons, this simple family favorite drink is perfect for any gathering or just sipping on the porch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups hulled and quartered strawberries
- 1 ½ cups fresh lemon juice
- 1 ⅓ cups granulated sugar
- 5 cups water
- Ice
- Slides lemons and strawberries (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Hull the strawberries and quarter them. Measure out 1 ½ cups.
- Add the hulled strawberries, sugar and water to a saucepan.
- Bring the strawberry mixture to a simmer for five minutes to soften the strawberries.
- Meanwhile, juice the lemons to make 1 ½ cups of juice. Add the juice to a 2-quart pitcher.
- Let the strawberry mixture cool slightly and carefully pour into a blender. Pulse on low speed until smooth.
- Strain through a mesh strainer into the pitcher for a pulp-free strawberry lemonade.
- Mix well and chill.
- Serve with lemon slices and sliced strawberries if desired.
- Enjoy!
Equipment
Notes
- Use ripe strawberries for the best results. You can use thawed frozen strawberries in place of fresh strawberries.
- When blending the strawberry mixture, pulse rather than continuously blend. Pulsing will incorporate less air into the mixture. If it is too foamy, skim the foam off the top before mixing with the lemon juice.
- Adjust the sugar based on how ripe and sweet the strawberries are. You can always start with just one cup of sugar and increase it to meet your taste.
- Chill well before serving so the homemade strawberry lemonade does not get diluted by the ice.
- You can use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh; however, fresh juice gives this strawberry lemonade a fresher flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
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